Source: Elko Daily Free Press (Unedited) – less byline
1.8 Million Acres and an alleged 1,500 horses are too many?
(120,000 acres per horse)
BLM already attacked the Antelope herd 2011~ photo by Terry Fitch
ELKO — The Bureau of Land Management is planning a wild horse roundup in the Antelope Valley using water bail traps.
The project area for this gather and removal of wild horses is from within and outside the Triple B, Maverick-Medicine, and the western and central portions of the Antelope Valley herd management areas. The gather is expected to begin after June 13, though specific dates have not been determined due to budget constraints and other higher priority gathers.
Total acreage within the project area is more than 1.8 million and the 2013 estimated population is 1,504 horses. The appropriate management level for the area is between 548 and 1,115 horses. With the lack of needed precipitation this past fall and winter, BLM expects there will be a lack of available water for the wild horses in the summer and fall months ahead.
This action is based on limited water and forage availability to adequately support the current population of wild horses and the result to range resources caused by a concentration on site specific areas.
Scoping began June 14, 2012. On Sept. 4, 2012, the BLM released a preliminary environmental assessment analyzing the impacts of this proposed horse gather to the human environment for a 30-day public comment period. The Wells and Egan Field Offices in Elko and Ely districts released a final environmental assessment finding no significant impact and decision record for the gather recently.
Click (HERE) to visit the Elko Daily and to Comment
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
WHOA!! Hold the God damned phone. It’s not even summer yet…the BLM can’t do simple math so how in hell can they determine whether there will be rain this year or not! Now at they going to tell people that they have a crystal ball?
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Why do they really keep doing this – (what are they practicing for?) – Why is the BLM still “managing” animals when clearly they are supposed to manage LAND? Can’t this be stopped with executive orders while in-depth research studies are launched for the public good – buy them some time so they can recover!
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What is a bail trap???
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The Elko Daily article says bait traps
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how many are going to perish during this little rodeo?
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They are so wrong to capture more horses…Where will they all go ? The BLM holding areas are already full with horses they say that they can not feed…They need to leave the wild horses and Burros alone and take care of the ones that they have already captured and are killing now with there gelding and mismanagement !
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I just don’t understand how the BLM believes that the removal of a mere 1,500 horses is going to cure a drought problem. So how many cattle & other livestock are grazing on that land? I’ll bet the horses represent a very small percentage. This is disgusting!! The BLM won’t be happy until all horses are eradicated, so that they can make more money from the ranchers who want those lands for their private enrichment!
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Got a twitter account? Sally Jewell does…
@secretaryjewell 1504 wild horses on 1.8 million acres is too many? 1,000 more to store? Your attention is required to stop this madness!
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Seems the NAoS study trumps this decision and that isn’t due out until June.
Where’s that Bob guy ? Bob needs to run the BLM as he seems to be the only one with any math skills and brains in that group
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I am honestly at a lose for words, is NO ONE going to STOP them??
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The holding area at Palimino is a disgusting mess and no horse should be subjected to this type of jail. Unsanitary conditions where horses are standing in manure and being fed on top of waste. Where are they getting the money for roundups with their budget cuts? Will the BLM just sell the existing prisoners to slaughter? Stop the BLM.
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HOW DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REALLY SAID AFTER ALL THE LIES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON. THE BLM CAN TELL US WHATEVER THEY WANT US TO KNOW. THEIR ONLY DESIRE IS TO GET RID OF THE WILD HORSES NOTHING ELSE. THE NEXT THING WE WILL HEAR IS THAT THEY HAVE TO SEND THE HORSES TO SLAUGHTER AS THERE IS TO MANY TO TAKE CARE OF. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE WASHINGTON OFFICE WHO CARES FOR THE HORSES I WOULD BE SURPRISED. WE THE PEOPLE, MUST OPEN SANCTUARIES FOR THE HORSES UNTIL WE CAN GET THIS PROBLEM ALL WORKED OUT IN WASHINGTON. HAY IS EXPENSIVE BUT HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF BRINGING HAY FROM THE MIDWEST THERE ARE A LOT OF FARMERS THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A HAY CONTRACT. IF THE BLM DIDN’T HAVE OUR TAXES FOR THE HORSES WHAT WOULD THEY DO THEN?
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OMG ,, WHEN WILL THEY LEARN ? It is devastating to the animals , us & our image to the World !
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Please don’t let those horses go to a kill buyer. I hope that Sally Jewel has more heart and concern for these wild horses than Salazar. Even with budget cuts, there has to be a way. Give the best horses birth control methods and release them. We need more citizens to take them in, if they have refuges and/or land to take them. That Davis in Colorado should be banned from buying any horses, along with any of his killer buddies. They belong in jail. I know they just get their hands slapped, but the laws need to be strengthened towards animal abusers of all kinds. Especially kill buyers. Good for the Europeans to ban horsemeat. All countries need too for now. The days might come in the future that we have to eat animals that we don’t want too, but that hasn’t happened yet.
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Crazy BLM and their mis-managed data and info…. 1.8 million acres for 15,000 Wild Horses……this is MADDENING!! The BLM is one big Malfunction that is out of control and doing whatever they choose to wipe out our Wild Horses.
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1,500…typo on the 15,000
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What liars. As our population grows and climate change progresses, I expect this will happen more and more, taking the water in favor of humans and their cattle. Bye-bye everyting else.
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I assume this is happening but sure hope it doesn’t in Elko, Nevada?! Joe Mette.
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Its just downright wrong the NAS study wasn’t allowed to take the cattle grazing into consideration. How straightforward is that? Kind of one step forward & 2 back. And it sure does seem like the retired BLM man is the only one who actually sees the truth of whats going on.
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This roundup is so unjustified and must be stopped.The BLM just caters to the ranchers and other exploiters.
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No one can forget the multi-use plans on the table right now for this northeast corridor of Nevada. The GOSHUTE pipeline taking water from the water tables of Goshute Valley has been approved by BLM for shipment to the glorious LAS VEGAS.
The Goshute Indians have been fighting this plan as it is predicted the water table will fall 12′. The Goshute Valley is the head of those waters; their way of life as well as all riparian life along the travels of this waterway, including subterranean water tables, creeks and seeps. These predictions were made by BLM when they were strong enough to say “no” to Investors. Pres Obama planted his weight behind the investors upon his visit as did the ammoral Prince. (Sorry, had to throw in more editorial). Moving the horses will take focus off their condition as they would suffer loss of summer forage fueled by the high water tables. Those water tables and all seepages are predicted to dramatically drop with the loss of many trees and above ground plants of all types. Grasses will not be able to mature enough to set seed, and we will see the end of even more grassland.
The water to the north will also be drawn off by Mt Moly which may be in constructive phases for the benefit of Chinese business as we speak, water which flows south to fill the waterholes, creeks, ponds, seeps and subterranean waterways traveling out frmt he northeast corner of NV. There is LOTS of water in NV, but but it travels in its own way. Mt Moly wll become the world’s LARGEST molybdenum mine in the world, using hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per month. Eco-nightmare here we come.
It is a fight to save the land, protect the horses and preserve our heritage for our children. Help the Goshute tribe. Contact your own reps and protest, contact EPA, NV Water, Goshute tribe leaders, Western Watershed, and if you want to waste your tibe contact BLM.
This conglomerate turn of events will effect the entire eastern corridor of Nevada as the water which naturally moves from north to south shall be diverted to be piped direct to the bloated area of Las Vegas to enable its outrageous development to breath.
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This is such an abuse of Government’s power. The Bureau of Land Management “BLM” is so out of control. Someone that representatives the Humane Society and all others organizations should step in to protect these unnecessary roundups.
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Patty I wonder the same thing???????……..when were looking at 1500 horses to 1.8 million acres we have nothing but POLITIC’S involved……….then we have millions of acres that is designated for welfare cattle……..and now Fracking interests and pipelines……………..
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I have been in most of these areas in the Triple B and Antelope Valley many times recently, where they say bait and trapping of our wild horses are necessary on almost 2 million acres, these areas are abundant with lush grass in some places the grass is three to four inches high and it is raining almost every other day this spring in these areas the horses are thriving and not over populated how could they be with all that land and so few horses . Last Winter we had record snow fall amounts this past Winter , there is plenty of water at the springs.
This action by the BLM is totally unacceptable to bait and trap some 548 horses on almost 2 million acres. They have no place to warehouse these horses after they are trapped, leave them alone. I also want to know who the contractors are, what are their qualifications to handle wild horses also where each of these bait and trappings be placed and on what dates .There is no public transparency with this program, it is all to vague and public is not even allowed, we have a right to see these horses. We need accountability of how many horses are removed and where will they be held .With such budget cuts how can BLM justify this?
Also are there any cattle or sheep in these bait trapping areas , I do believe there is. I have more questions than answers to bait and trapping. Every scheduled trapping needs to be posted for public information , I do not want to see anymore wild horses disappear from these area. Please make your comments to the Wells BLM and Ely BLM office.Thank you
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Please take photos of the cattle and sheep when you go out to the ranges. Look for their effect on the grasses and riparian areas.
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And all this after they have said they have no more money for roundups or any more room to house them. Twin Peaks HMA is about the same. They want to remove 795 horses from 795,000 acres. I have seen photos of the burned out area in the Twin Peaks HMA area and it is growing back nicely. We nee to keep sharing all this info and keep writing Washington to complain about all this crap. Not much more we can do. We all know once they make up their mind then they are set to do what they want to do without any concern for any living thing that gets in their way.
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This is just plain STUPID !!! Can we get a list of their names w/ address plus their job title in this STUPID TO DO? Everyone should know who their neighbor or and friend does for a living! What else do they with their time? Really would like to know who these individuals are and what they are about. There must be a legal way to do this and then post their pictures ALL OVER!!!
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Here is the info on water/bait trapping:
https://rtfitchauthor.com/2012/08/06/wild-horse-and-burro-bait-trapping-going-going-gone/
These contracts were signed a year ago (five-year optional contracts with MINIMUM numbers of WH&B to be captured each year) and thus the money has already been approved so it appears the new “cutbacks” would not then effect these contractors and trapping. In addition, trapping has already been going on (McCullough Peaks, WY and Murderer’s Creek, OR and more) behind our backs and without any transparency and among other things the BLM contracts state the contractor can hot shot the animals except not in the face or genitals or rectum. Keep in mind what they have done to the horses even when the public WAS watching … and what do we think they will do to the horses when nobody is watching? And … after being trapped, how many do we think will “slip out the back” into the slaughter pipeline with no accountability?
The trapping contractors who are approved for zone 4 which includes the Triple-B are:
Warner (previous employee of Cattoor)
Sampson (previous employee of Cattoor)
and Cattoor
The chart in the article did not show up -here is the info:
Capture Company Name -Zone – Minimum – Maximum (July 2012-June 2013)
Horse Trappers
Zone 1
400 Min.
2,000 Max.
Desert Hill Const.
Zone 3
500 Min.
2,000 Max.
Mt. Taylor
Zones 3 and 6
800 Min.
4,000 Max.
Warner (worked for Cattoor)
Zones 1-6
2,400 Min.
12,000 Max.
Sampson (worked for Cattoor)
Zones 1-6
2,400 Min.
12,000 Max.
Cattoor*
Zones 1-6
2,400 Min.
12,000 Max.
Totals 8,900 Minimum 44,000 Maximum
*Cattoor – no zone(s) indicated so assume all 6 zones thus minimum per contract would demand 2,400 and maximum would be 12,000. (see links for details)
The trapping contracts also state that ALL horses being captured will be photographed … and although I requested via FOIA these (and other trapping data) six months ago … not a single photo or BLM COR report has been provided to me. Oh yeah … all roads near the trapping area will be closed to the public per the contracts. There is much more to the Wild Horse and Burro trapping story, such as payment request invoices being turned in to BLM without dates and without location (HMA) of trapping etc… but this above information should give you a good idea of what has been going on and will be going on in the Triple B and surely will get your blood boiling.
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Are there no public observation opportunities?
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Trapping contractors are not allowed to even discuss the trapping with the public and trapped animals can only be seen after they are at the holding facilities. There is more in the contract about closing roads to the public etc………………
“PUBLIC AND MEDIA
Due to heightened public interest in wild horse and burro gathers, the BLM/Contractor may expect an increasing number of requests from the public and media to view the operation.
a. Due to this type of operation (luring wild horses and burros to bait) spectators and viewers will be prohibited as it will have impacts on the ability to capture wild horses and burros. Only essential personnel (COR/PI, veterinarian, contractor, contractor employees, etc.) will be allowed at the trap site during operations.
L12PS00229- Statement of Work and Clauses/Provisions
13 of 45 3/7/2012
b. Public viewing of the wild horses and burros trapped may be provided at the staging area and/or the BLM preparation facility by appointment.
c. The Contractor agrees that there shall be no release of information to the news media regarding the removal or remedial activities conducted under this contract.
d. If the public or media interfere in any way with the trapping operation, such that the health and wellbeing of the crew, horses and burros is threatened, the trapping operation will be suspended until the situation is resolved.”
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I recently heard from a friend in the highly productive area of the California Imperial Valley, that the Colorado River Water Authority (not sure that is the official name) has said water for irrigation will be cut over the summer. He can’t grow his grass and will have to cut back on production of his forages.
I see SO many connections here with agriculture, public lands policy and wild equines.
I don’t believe the water issue is just about cities….this is about privatization and public lands/resources theft. Our wildlife will suffer from this policy.
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A bit more info about Triple B BLM EA:
They say they hauled 150,000 gallons of water out to the horses from June 2011 to October 2012 (twice weekly). NOAA reports that 2011 was at 125% of normal precipitation that year so why were they hauling water? Where did the 2011 water go? To the mines? Were we being “set up” by BLM for their massive drought removal plans?
By the way, one standard water truck [4,000 gal tank] on a small construction job would use about that much water in two days and yet they say they hauled ~136 loads = about 1,100 gal per load. Did we pay to have the water delivered in trucks that were only about one-quarter full or what? Something doesn’t jive with their statement.
For your information, per NOAA as of May 1st 2013 Elko was at 78% of normal precipitation and yet they are removing hundreds of horses because of the drought? BS.
In addition, 68 wild horses were reported dead within a year after the last Triple B capture – the majority of these deaths were caused by gelding and fractures that would not have happened if they were left alone on their legally designated land. Our wild horses and our land.
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I recall there was one band whose water resource was dried. BLM said they had to build a road out and transport water. If water was above normal for the area, I think it is plain something interferred with its usual course. I would not doubt it if an interview with the mining specialist for the distrct might not have something to add to this conversation. It is an overall collaboration. But if any of us ever got a truly honest answer, the whole puzzle would come together.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
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